Aspire. Attain. Surpass
"There's no way we could rest on our laurals," asserts vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik on the collective mindset the band brought to the writing and recoreing of their fourth major label release. "No matter how succsesful we were going into this record, we all felt we were starting from scratch, as if we were making a record for the first time. Sure, you learn from the experience, but the important thing is to keep it fresh, to stay alive to the possiblities and potential of the music. You can never take that for granted."
So much for Asperation. And, while it's true that success too often breeds complacency, for the Goo Goo Dollsi t's only served to bring them closer to the fundamentals of their fifteen-year partnership. "We never really bought into the whole rock star myth," John continues, before adding with a laugh, "Well, we might have 'rented in' for a weekend here and there, but in the end it always comes back to the music. For us success- real success- is one song at a time."
That's the way it's always been for the Goo Goo Dolls. From their earliest days on the rough-and-tumble Northeast music scene through years of playing according to bassist Robby Takac - "every one night stand in America, twice", through their obligatory stint in the indie records realm, the band have combined an unerring instinct for original and authentic music with a hardcore work ethic that is nothing short of inspirational.
It was that mix of talent and sweat equity that paid off with the 1998 release of Dizzy Up The Girl, a breakthrough in every sense of the word, with worldwide sales approaching six million and counting and a string of smash singles including the epochal "Iris", as well as "Slide", "Black Balloon", and the title track. Together, Dizzy's hits have racked up an historic one million radio spins to date. Two solid years of international touring followed the album's release and, while the band and their fans could be forgiven for concluding that The Goo Goo Dolls had finnaly "arrived" it was that restless urge to turn the next creative corner that kept the trio cranking.
Which Brings us to Attainment. After a well-deserved six-month hiates, the group reconviened to compile a long overdue career retrospective. With the revealing title of What I Learned About Ego, Opinion, Art, & Commerce, the 22-track collection was, says Robby, "A way for people to get caught up on what came before 'Iris'. We've been at this a long time and we're proud of what we've done. This was our way of acknowledging that history."
It was in the fall of 2001 that John, Robby, along with drummer Mike Malinin and producer Rob Caallo { the man behind the boards for Dizz Up The Girl } began assembling the elements of a new album. "Of course our success was a factor going in," asserts John, "How could it not be? We worked our asses off to get to this place, and we didn't want to disappoint ourselves, or our fans. But more that that, we wanted to see where the music would take us. We'd been living in a fishbowl for three years, and it felt good to get back to basics."
"Basics" in this case included recording with an arrary of vintage instruments in the confines of Hollywoods's legendary Capitol Records Studios."The place had a real vibe," John continues. "I even put up some velvet drapes and a memorial bar in honor of Sinatra and all the others who had recorded there. Along with using old equipment, it helped us keep in touch with the sound we were after. With digital technology you're always fighting against something antiseptic. We needed that edge to keep it real."
"The whole process took about four months," continues Robby,"which is about normal for us. The pressure was definetly on, but that didn't change our approach. We had an incredibly team, especially Rob Cavallo, who totally understands what we're about, and our engineers Allen Sides and Ken Alllerdyce. In the studio, the differencebetween success and failure can come down to how many inches there are between microphones. We depended on them totally to make those calls."
With all the elements in place, it remained for the Goo Goo Dolls to grapple with the greatest challenge of their career - to create music that would both build on and surpass the extraordinary accomplisments that precceded it. And it's in this final category that Gutterflower represents a full on, flat out triumph. Simply put, the twelve tracks that comprise this potent and persuasive tour de force not only to exceed every availible expectatin, but also to createa whole new stndard for the energy and emotional impact that has always been the hallmark of genuine rock & roll.
It always starts, of course, with the songs. On Gutterflower, both John and Robby seemed to have taken a leap from an already impressive perch, fashioning music and lyrics into a resonant and revealing listening experience far greater than the sum of it's parts. On that rarest of occurences - an album with no throwaway tracks - it's impossible to single out any one selection for special attention except to say here is a collection of songs that manages to convey universal insight in highly personal terms.
"I think, if there is a theme to these songs, it's about being honest with yourself, and with others, and seeking out those who will return the favor," John ventures. "Our experiences over the past three years have taught us to appreciate friendship, love, loyalty... those basic human values. When we were writing about charaters we've encountered and scenes we've survived, it's that need for connection that comes through and hopefully everyone can relate to that. Otherwise, you're just talking to yourself.
The assured and accessible lyrics of Gutterflower are matched, note for note, with music that both celebrates the band's stylistic diverisity and conclusivly consolidates their cohesive ensamble sound. From their tradmark blood-and-thunder alchamy to glorious acoustic outings to a soundscape wholly their own, the Goo Goo Dolls, on Gutterflower, have expanded their expressive range in dazzling new directions.
Next up, naturally, is an extensive touring itinerary. "This is one of my favorite times of the whole process," John reveals. "The album is finished. There's nothing more you can do, even if you wanted to. I't's time to start thinking about stepping form the studio onto the stage and making that the best experience it can be. We're ready."
From The Goo Goo Dolls Official Site
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